For immediate release: Community Walk to End Intimate Partner Violence Set for September 21 at Durham Region Headquarters

Durham, Ontario – August 6, 2024 – Bethesda House, The Denise House, Herizon House, YWCA Durham, Safety Network Durham, Luke’s Place, Victim Services of Durham, WMRCC of Durham, and the Region of Durham are proud to announce the upcoming Community Walk to End Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which will take place on Saturday, September 21st…

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Case summary: Parental alienation and reunification therapy

This case summary was prepared by Pamela Cross. In this case, Justice Sullivan comprehensively reviewed the evidence, law and case law in making an order that the 14-year-old son be required to participate in reunification therapy, against his wishes, largely because she believed the father had influenced the child to such an extent that his…

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What is intimate partner violence?

The term intimate partner violence (IPV) describes the abuse of power by one partner in a dating, common-law, married, or otherwise intimate relationship. This abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial, social, cultural, or a combination of some or all of these. This form of violence falls under the umbrella term/category of gender-based violence, which…

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Because of you: Two years of calling for action

On the Friday of a long weekend, more than 70 individuals gathered in Barry’s Bay, ON. Together, they recognized the second anniversary of the Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam (CKW) inquest. About the gathering We joined Lanark County Interval House and EVA Renfrew County in hosting a community gathering on Friday June 28, 2024. This gathering…

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Tips for building a new and safe co-parenting relationship

Abuse does not always end because a relationship does. If you have children with your ex-partner, you will need to build a new co-parenting relationship. It is important that this new relationship takes into account your safety. This can be challenging for many reasons. Here are tips for building a new, and safe, co-parenting relationship…

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Case comment: Relocation to the United Arab Emirates

F. v. N. 2022 SCC 51 The mother and father lived in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) for nearly a decade with their two children, who are under the age of 5. Neither parent is a citizen of the UAE but the father has a residency permit which allowed him to sponsor the…

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An update on criminalizing coercive control

At Luke’s Place, we support women and their children who have left abuse and are engaged with the family law/court process through both direct service and system change work. Through this work, we have developed a deep understanding of the many ways different legal systems intersect with and affect women’s family law experiences. We have…

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Case summary: Abraham v. Gallo 2022 ONCA 874

This is an interesting decision where the mother in this case sought a declaration that a foreign divorce was not valid in order to proceed with a claim for spousal support under the Divorce Act. The father argued that the divorce was valid and sought to dismiss the mother’s claim for spousal support due to…

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Case comment: Coercive control & family violence

hands on a book

Case summary prepared by Luke’s Place Advocacy Director, Pamela Cross In this case (F.S. v. M.B.T. 2023 ONCJ 102), Justice Sherr carefully analyzes the context of family violence, including coercive control, when making a decision related to parenting arrangements for a 12-year-old child. The case also involves a claim for spousal support by the mother,…

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